Golf Putter

ABSTRACT

A golf puffer has a cylindrical tube mounted horizontally behind the putter face with its front end aligned behind the sweet spot. The rear end of the tube is open. This tube acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball. In addition, the tube typically has a diameter larger than that of a golf ball. The golfer&#39;s view of the cylindrical tube enhances the golfer&#39;s ability to correctly line up a putt by using the visual peripheral corridor created when the puffer is swung back and forth over the golf ball along the golfer&#39;s intended swing path prior to addressing and putting the golf ball.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates generally to the field of golf putters. More specifically, the present invention discloses a golf putter having a cylindrical tube mounted behind the face of the puffer that produces an enhanced characteristic resonant sound when the sweet spot on the face of the putter strikes a golf ball.

2. Statement of the Problem

Golf is a game requiring a combination of physical, mental and emotional skills. Success in golf can be attained at many levels, from the beginning amateur winning a handicapped tournament to the PGA professional playing for millions of dollars. An accomplished golfer will combine inherent physical talent with a great deal of practice, proper instruction on the fundamentals of the game and course management, a set of golf clubs properly matched to his/her skill level and needs, and a positive mental attitude. Within the requisite list of necessities listed above, the intent of golf equipment manufacturers (e.g., makers of golf balls, golf clubs, training aids, shoes, clothing and other accoutrements) is to enhance a golfer's enjoyment of the game, as well as to provide the most advanced equipment that will help increase a golifer's chances to shoot a lower score.

Increased attention has been given in recent years to the putting portion of the game and to improving a golifer's ability to properly align himself prior to addressing the ball, while setting up to putt the ball, and during the execution of the putting stroke. Numerous alignment aids (in the form of training devices and so-called alignment systems built into actual putters) have been made claiming to produce more accurate putts, with varying degrees of success.

A proper putting stroke involves a fairly complex combination of visual, physical and auditory functions performed: (1) prior to puffing the ball; (2) when setting up to strike the ball during the putting stroke; and (3) finishing with the subsequent follow-through after contact is made. Consequently, a well-designed golf puffer should address these three functions in order to assist the golfer in all aspects of the putting stroke. The prior art has sought to address these three functions of the putting stroke in numerous ways, including the use of various shapes and sizes of the putter head, numerous varieties of sightliness a large number of weighting options (to enhance a more consistent pendulum swinging motion), different color schemes for visual support, myriad construction materials (e.g., steel, aluminum, ceramic, various polymers used for face inserts to change the feel when hitting the putt, titanium, copper, brass, and other materials), and design characteristics implemented to create a unique sound when striking the ball

Recent studies conducted by experts from some of the leading golf magazines have produced evidence that the sound of a golf club striking a golf ball and the ability of the golfer to know how well a ball has been struck are inextricably linked. Thus, by enhancing the sound made at contact during the swing, or puffing stroke, a golfer can better hear/feel how well the ball has been struck and what the result of that strike will be, even before the ball arrives at its resting position. Therefore, an improved USGA-conforming golf putter head design is desired that fully addresses the physical, visual and auditory elements of the putting stroke in a uniquely better way, so as to provide the golfer with the best possible chance for success when trying to make laterally-consistently accurate putts that travel the desired longitudinal distance.

3. Solution to the Problem

The present invention addresses this need in the prior art by providing a golf putter head that encourages the golfer's natural eye/hand/ear coordination to work in concert with the golfer's ability to more precisely judge speed and distance through the use of the golfer's peripheral vision so that, through practice, a consistently accurate stroke, with proper speed and distance control, can be produced. In particular, the golf putter face of the present invention produces a distinct sound when the golf ball is struck that resonates through an open cylindrical tube mounted behind the putter face to create a louder, more discernible sound which, when heard repeatedly, can be used by the golfer to better judge quality of contact, speed and distance control.

In addition, the cylindrical tube atop the golf putter head provides a natural peripheral visual corridor when swinging the putter back and forth along the intended line of the putt This corridor allows the golfer to establish that his intended line of contact is the same as the line of contact indicated by his practice swing plane.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention provides a golf putter having a cylindrical tube mounted horizontally behind the putter face with its front end aligned behind the sweet spot of the putter face. The rear end of the tube is open. This tube acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball. In addition, the tube typically has a diameter substantially larger than that of a golf ball. The golfer's view of the top of the tube enhances the golfer's ability to correctly line up a putt by using the visual peripheral corridor created when the putter is swung back and forth over the golf ball along the golfer's intended swing path prior to addressing and putting the golf ball.

These and other advantages, features, and objects of the present invention will be more readily understood in view of the following detailed description and the drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention can be more readily understood in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a rear perspective view of the golf puffer.

FIG. 2 is another perspective view of the golf putter.

FIG. 3 is a top view of the golf putter.

FIG. 4 is a left side view of the golf putter.

FIG. 5 is a front view of the striking face of the puffer head.

FIG. 6 is the rear view of the golf putter.

FIG. 7 is a bottom view of the golf putter.

FIG. 8 is a top view illustrating the peripheral visual corridor created by the tube as practice swings are made back and forth along the intended swing plane.

FIG. 9 is a top perspective view of the putter head illustrating the enhanced distinctive sound that occurs when the golf ball strikes the puffer face.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

A detailed description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention will now be described with reference to FIGS. 1-9. Although this description provides detailed examples of possible implementations of the present invention, it should be noted that these details are intended to be exemplary and in no way delimit the scope of the invention.

FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a rear isometric view and a top rear view, respectively, of one embodiment of the present golf putter head 10. The putter includes a putter face with a large “sweet spot” 22A (i.e., an optimal area for contacting a golf ball) as illustrated in FIG. 5. The embodiment of the putter face shown in FIG. 5 has a relatively wide lower portion that includes the sweet spot 22A, and a narrower upper portion 22B. However, it should be understood that other shapes for the putter face could be readily substituted. FIG. 6 shows the back 22C of the face.

A cylindrical tube 12 with a full 360-degree circular cross-sectional shape is horizontally mounted behind the putter face. For example, the cylindrical tube 12 may be formed using any suitable material (e.g., titanium, carbon, steel, aluminum, zinc alloy, ceramic, plastic, and the like) and mounted on the support base 16 using any suitable adhering technique known to those skilled in the art (e.g., a screw, glue, welding, thermal bonding, etc.).

As best illustrated in FIG. 6, the cylindrical tube 12 is typically centered behind the rear face 22C with its front end generally aligned with the sweet spot 22A of the putter. In an exemplary embodiment, the tube 12 is open in both its front and back end, thereby creating a resonant structure that allows sound to travel from front to back through the tube without obstruction. In particular, the front end of the cylindrical tube 12 is generally aligned behind the sweet spot 22A on the putter face so that the tube 12 acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball. When the sweet spot 22A of the putter face strikes a golf ball, this contact creates an enhanced characteristic sound that resonates through the cylindrical tube 12 creating a megaphone-like effect to enhance the auditory properties of this sound FIG. 9 illustrates the resonant sound made when a golf ball is struck by the sweet spot 22A of the putter face. It should be noted that contact between the ball and the sweet spot 22A of the putter face should be properly aligned both horizontally and vertically to achieve this enhanced characteristic resonant sound, which helps to train the golfer in forming an auditory association between the resonant sound and a properly aligned putt. Otherwise, the sound produced by ball contact is significantly different (e.g., muted, duller or less resonant). The rear end of the tube 12 can be tapered from top to bottom and beveled, as shown for example in FIGS. 3 and 4, to help direct the resonant sound upward toward the golfer's ears.

It should be noted that the cylindrical tube 12 remains visible to the golfer while swinging the putter. The cylindrical tube 12 assists in determining proper alignment prior to, and during, the putting stroke by virtue of the visual peripheral corridor created when visualizing the ball going through the tube as practice strokes are taken over the golf ball. FIG. 8 illustrates the visual peripheral corridor 44 created from the golfer's point of view by this “tube-effect.” Practice swings made back and forth 46 over the ball (while visualizing the ball passing through the cylindrical tube 12) create a ghost image from front to back along the swing plane (back to 48 and forward to 50). This tube effect created along the longitudinal swing plane enables the golfer to see a continuous “tube” alignment line making it possible to judge how close his swing line is to the intended target 54.

FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate a sighting window 24 (e.g., a slot) in the top surface of the cylindrical tube 12 that can be used for alignment in conjunction with a visual marker 28 (e.g., a stripe) located on the bottom of the interior surface of the cylindrical tube. Proper alignment of the putter relative to the golfer's anatomy is indicated when the visual marker 28 is visible to the golfer through the sighting window 24,

Optionally, the top of the putter face can include a ball-centering strip that is approximately the width of a regulation golf ball (1.68 inches), as depicted in FIGS. 2-6. This stripe can be used to center the golf ball relative to the sweet spot 22A of the putter face when addressing the ball to make the putt.

In the embodiment shown in the accompanying drawings, the top of the cylindrical tube 12 is less than 0.25 inches above the top of the putter head face, as required by USGA regulations for conforming putters. This is best illustrated in FIG. 5. The overall height of the putter (from the sole of the putter to the top of the cylindrical tube 12) is less than 2.5 inches per USGA regulations for conforming putters.

The base 16 of the golf putter head in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 can include a recessed canal 20 on each side of the putter base 16 which allows for weight reduction and also helps to further raise the overall center of gravity of the golf putter head of the invention.

FIGS. 5 and 7 illustrate the “frog belly” shape 40 of the left and right sides of the bottom of the putter head base 16 which allow for cantering of the putter so as to adjust for greens of varying slopes. FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 also illustrate the shaft entry point (bore) 18 that accepts a conventional golf club shaft 14. In addition, FIG. 4 illustrates the acute angle formed between the face and base surface of the puffer as shown by the dotted axis lines 34 and 38. This enables the golfer to use the putter with a low degree of loft 32 on standard putts (i.e., with the putter face perpendicular to the ground). Alternatively, the golfer can achieve a greater degree of loft by resting the back of the putter 36 flat on the ground. For example, more loft may be desirable for putts made from the fringe of the green in order to lift the ball out of the longer grass.

It is to be understood that the foregoing illustrative embodiments have been provided for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the invention. Words used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. In addition, the beneficial features and embodiments described herein may not be realized by each and every rendition created under the scope of the present invention. Further, although the invention has been described herein with reference to particular structure, materials or embodiments, the invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein. Rather, the invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims. Those skilled in the art, having the benefit of the teachings of this specification, may affect numerous modifications thereto and changes may be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. For example, the golf putter head 10 of the invention may be configured to include a variety of adjustable or optional weighting methods within the scope and spirit of the invention, and, therefore, such improvements or additional embodiments will also enjoy protection under the aforementioned claims. 

1. A golf putter comprising: a putter face having a sweet spot for optimally hitting a golf ball; and a cylindrical tube mounted horizontally behind the putter face with a front end aligned behind the sweet spot and an open rear end, wherein said tube acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball.
 2. The golf putter of claim 1 wherein the tube further comprises a sighting window in the upper portion of the tube and a visual marker on the bottom interior of the tube, wherein proper alignment of the putter is indicated when the visual marker is visible through the sighting window.
 3. The golf putter of claim 1 wherein the rear end of the tube is tapered from top to bottom and is beveled.
 4. The golf putter of claim 1 wherein the tube has a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of a golf ball.
 5. The golf putter of claim 1 wherein the cylindrical tube is visible to a golfer to provide a visual peripheral corridor when the putter is swung back and forth.
 6. The golf putter of claim 1 wherein the putter face further comprises a wide lower portion and a narrower upper portion.
 7. A golf putter comprising: a puffer face having a sweet spot for optimally hitting a golf ball; and a cylindrical tube mounted horizontally behind the putter face with: (a) a front end aligned behind the sweet spot; (b) an open rear end wherein said tube acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball; and (c) a portion visible to a golfer to provide a visual peripheral corridor when the putter is swung back and forth.
 8. The golf putter of claim 7 wherein the tube further comprises a sighting window in the upper portion of the tube and a visual marker on the bottom interior of the tube, wherein proper alignment of the putter is indicated when the visual marker is visible through the sighting window.
 9. The golf putter of claim 7 wherein the rear end of the tube is tapered from top to bottom and is beveled.
 10. The golf putter of claim 7 wherein the tube has a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of a golf ball.
 11. The golf putter of claim 7 wherein the putter face further comprises a wide lower portion and a narrower upper portion.
 12. A golf putter comprising: a putter face having a sweet spot for optimally hitting a golf ball; and a cylindrical tube mounted horizontally behind the putter face with: (a) a front end aligned behind the sweet spot; (b) an open rear end wherein said tube acts as a resonant structure producing an enhanced characteristic sound when the sweet spot on the putter face strikes a golf ball; (c) a slot extending along the top of the tube; and (d) a visual marker on the bottom interior of the tube, wherein proper alignment of the putter is indicated when the visual marker is visible through the slot.
 13. The golf putter of claim 12 wherein the rear end of the tube is tapered from top to bottom and is beveled.
 14. The golf putter of claim 12 wherein the tube has a diameter substantially larger than the diameter of a golf ball.
 15. The golf putter of claim 12 wherein the cylindrical tube is visible to a golfer to provide a visual peripheral corridor when the putter is swung back and forth.
 16. The golf putter of claim 12 wherein the putter face further comprises a wide lower portion and a narrower upper portion. 